Confidex has announced that it has shipped more than 1 million limited-use Contactless PET RFID tickets in support of a new public transit ticketing system in Istanbul, Turkey. The tickets will be used as “5 in 1” single passenger tickets that will replace conventional paper tickets and augment the existing electronic ticketing system.

The tickets were purchased by Belbim A.S., through a contract with smart card technology provider PLASTKART. Belbim A.S. is a Turkish company that designs and develops computer systems and software, and provides consulting services to the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, including the city’s electronic transit fare and collection systems.

The mass transit system in Istanbul includes a mix of bus, rail and watercraft operated by the city, state and a number of private companies. Millions of passengers utilize the public transit service each day and Istanbul officials are investing heavily in an effort to modernize and increase the usage of public transportation options, while reducing vehicle congestion.

The new “5 in 1” RFID tickets will replace the single-use tickets and enable passengers to take five trips using a single ticket while providing the transit system with single ticket ride data via the cards’ unique serial numbers. The tickets can be read in 0.3 seconds, increasing the efficiency of the transit system.

This is not the first foray into modern ticketing technology for the transit system. In 1995, Belbim A.S. deployed the AKBIL electronic ticketing solution to help streamline and integrate ticketing across 17 modes of transportation and 11 different operating agencies. The AKBIL electronic tickets are contact memory buttons mounted on plastic keyfobs that regular users of the transit system can purchase and add credit to at their convenience.

Istanbul buses will now be outfitted with readers that can scan the “5 in 1” tickets in addition to the AKBIL devices and new smartcard-based Istanbulkart tickets. New reader systems will also be installed on turnstiles at all piers and rail stations so that the RFID tickets will also replace traditional tokens.